Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has reportedly agreed to plead guilty to a charge related to the illegal retention of classified documents. The plea deal includes a fine exceeding $2 million. Bolton is expected to appear for a rearraignment on June 26, as indicated by updates on the criminal case docket.
The charges against Bolton stem from allegations that he retained sensitive national security documents, including diary entries, after leaving the Trump administration. He was initially charged with eight counts of transmitting national defense information and ten counts of retaining such information. The case was reopened during the Biden administration following an FBI investigation into a breach of Bolton's email account by suspected Iranian hackers, which led to the discovery of classified entries from his time as National Security Adviser.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice declined to comment on the case. President Donald Trump has previously criticized Bolton and suggested he should face prosecution for allegedly disclosing classified information, although the investigation was conducted by career prosecutors during the prior administration.